Visitation Practices

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General

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Vendors must contact Supply Chain via email, fax or phone regarding their initial visit and provide a business card and company product line information. A vendor identification badge must be worn at all health authority hospitals/sites and local site security policies will be followed.

Vendor Exhibits

Vendors will not exhibit any supplies, equipment or pharmaceuticals in health authority public areas without prior written approval from PHSA Supply Chain. Vendors who sponsor educational programs may exhibit in conjunction with those programs, with approval within parameters established by Supply Chain or the group overseeing the program.

Onsite Communication

Vendors are not to utilize the hospital’s communications systems to contact any hospital staff member or physician.

Meetings with Physicians and Health Authority Staff

On-site meetings with physicians and staff will occur on an appointment-only basis. Vendors are to only interact with authorized staff (as specified within the RFX document) during an active competitive bid process, which is defined as from the point of issue of the RFX to contract award.

Access to Restricted Areas

Unless approved by the clinical requestor, Supply Chain Standardization Team, Manager or Department Leader, access is not authorized to any part of the operating room, surgical area, recovery room spaces, inpatient/outpatient units or other restricted areas.

Patient Care Activities

Vendor representatives may not engage in patient care activities. They must follow all established site guidelines for contact with patients, physicians and staff members in patient care relationships. In addition vendors are to have no contact with patients without first obtaining permission from authorized health authority clinical staff.

Flu Season

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Each year, influenza causes serious complications – including death – for many British Columbians, and patients at health care and long-term care facilities are among the hardest hit.

To support a comprehensive influenza prevention strategy, each health authority has a policy requiring all employees, other credentialed professionals (including physicians), residents, volunteers, students, contractors, visitors and vendors who attend patient care locations to either:

Get vaccinated against the flu; or

Wear a mask in patient care areas for the duration of flu season.

2018/19 Influenza Season

As of December 3, 2018, any vendor representatives visiting Health Authority patient care locations must have had a flu shot or are required to wear a mask during flu season (December 3, 2018 until April 2019). Masks will be available at key entrances of patient care sites, and we would encourage those that have received a flu shot to carry the record of that vaccination. Any visitor found in violation of this policy may be denied access to patient care locations. This policy applies to all patient care facilities in BC.

The Health Authorities are committed to reducing influenza rates at their health care and long term care facilities. This policy will help save lives, and we ask that you support their efforts by following the terms of the policy.